10 things you didn't know about Elon Musk

June 21, 2018 5:23 PM

Photo: Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

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Musk was the inspiration for the cinematic version of "Iron Man," and even has a cameo in "Iron Man 2"

Prior to filming the first "Iron Man" film in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau met with Musk and toured his SpaceX facility. Downey Jr. picked up on Musk's “accessible eccentricities,” and Favreau stated on multiple occasions that the character of Tony Stark/Iron Man takes inspiration from Musk. The SpaceX founder even has a brief cameo as himself in the second "Iron Man" movie. less

Musk was the inspiration for the cinematic version of "Iron Man," and even has a cameo in "Iron Man 2"

Prior to filming the first "Iron Man" film in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau met with Musk ... more

Photo: Photo Credit: Industrial Light A, Industrial Light & Magic

Musk was the inspiration for the cinematic version of "Iron...photo-15455606.182717 - |ucfirst

When Musk was 12, he designed a video game

Musk was just 12 years old when he created a space-themed PC game called Blastar. He sold the code for the game to the magazine PC and Office Technology for $500, and you can play the game here.

Musk bought the car for nearly $1 million in 2013, and stated that he hopes to make submarine cars a reality. "I was disappointed to learn that it can't actually transform," Musk said. "What I'm going to do is upgrade it with a Tesla electric powertrain and try to make it transform for real." less

Musk owns the famous submarine car from "The Spy Who Loved Me"

Musk bought the car for nearly $1 million in 2013, and stated that he hopes to make submarine cars a reality. "I was disappointed to learn that it ... more

Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images

Musk owns the famous submarine car from "The Spy Who Loved...photo-5595296.182717 - |ucfirst

The robots at the Tesla factory are named after X-Men characters

Musk is a big fan of the X-Men, so naturally he named the robots at his Fremont plant after members of the superhero team. Per Telsa, Wolverine, Iceman and Beast "do the heavy lifting," Storm and Colossus "can be found at the end of the Chassis line," and Xavier "stands at the entrance to the trim line."

The robots at the Tesla factory are named after X-Men characters...photo-14366031.182717 - |ucfirst

When Musk was in college, he ran a nightclub out of his house

While studying at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 90's, Musk and roommate Adeo Ressi rented a large house off of campus and turned it into a nightclub. Musk told Esquire that he was in charge of running the operation, and could make an "entire month’s rent in one night" less

When Musk was in college, he ran a nightclub out of his house

While studying at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 90's, Musk and roommate Adeo Ressi rented a large house off of campus and turned it ... more

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

When Musk was in college, he ran a nightclub out of his house...photo-7561160.182717 - |ucfirst

Musk was relentlessly bullied as a child, and had to be hospitalized after one particularly brutal beating

Musk has spoken about being bullied as a child on numerous occasions, and details one painful memory in ... more

Photo: Bloomberg Photo By Patrick T. Fallon

Musk was relentlessly bullied as a child, and had to be...photo-15721021.182717 - |ucfirst

When he was a child, his parents thought he was deaf

This was also discussed in Vance's book. Maye Musk told Vance that when her son was younger, he would often gaze off into the distance when people would speak to him. “He goes into his brain, and then you just see he is in another world," Maye said. "Now I just leave him be because I know he is designing a new rocket or something.” less

When he was a child, his parents thought he was deaf

This was also discussed in Vance's book. Maye Musk told Vance that when her son was younger, he would often gaze off into the distance when people would speak ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

When he was a child, his parents thought he was deaf This was...photo-15677171.182717 - |ucfirst

He used to drink eight cans of Diet Coke a day

In 2007, Musk told Inc. that he would drink eight cans of Diet Coke and multiple cups of coffee a day. "I got so freaking jacked that I seriously started to feel like I was losing my peripheral vision,” Musk said. less

He used to drink eight cans of Diet Coke a day

In 2007, Musk told Inc. that he would drink eight cans of Diet Coke and multiple cups of coffee a day. "I got so freaking jacked that I seriously started to feel ... more

Photo: Associated Press

He used to drink eight cans of Diet Coke a day In 2007, Musk...photo-14912162.182717 - |ucfirst